Vacation Rentals by Owner

Cute and Comfortable

Guest: Windy2020 ( Colorado)
Date of Stay: 04/11/12 Review Submitted: 04/17/12

This house provides a quaint, well situated location to explore Key West. The house was clean and well equipped. Although the house itself is not large, the outdoor areas are spacious and comfortable and the space indoors is well organized. The location is perfect for just about anything you would want to do in Key West. It is a block from Duval and a 20 minute walk from either the harbor or the beach. There is morning sun and afternoon shade on the back patio. Be sure to check around the house before you go to the grocery store as many of the staples are tucked away in the house. The bedrooms are smallish but the place is fine for two couples or a family willing to share a bathroom.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Charming and Convenient!

Guest: Annie (Maryland)
Date of Stay: 02/14/12 Review Submitted: 02/22/12

Two of us rented this delightful house for a wonderful week in February 2012. The location is marvelous--a block off Duval and in the heart of the old part of town. The garden is spacious and a perfect spot for breakfast, cocktails or an afternoon nap in the hammock. We were impressed by how well equipped the kitchen is. Also there are lots of towels, pillows, extra blankets. The house is an easy walk to many of the major Key West attractions, but is located on a quiet street that's only a few blocks long, so there's little traffic. Best of all, it has real Key West charm!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Mermaid House Jan 2012

Guest: Intrepid Travelers (Denver)
Date of Stay: 01/23/12 Review Submitted: 02/15/12

So glad we found The Mermaid House while searching VRBO. What a great location - we could walk everywhere in Old Town with no problem and its close to lots of historical sites and cool architecture. Mermaid House is very well appointed with about anything one would need and the entire family loved the outdoor shower. This will be our choice the next time we are in Key West!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Best Place to Ring in the New Year!

Guest: C Milne (Stamford CT)
Date of Stay: 12/24/11 Review Submitted: 01/11/12

Charming and cozy house, as described. Perfect for 2 couples. Was the perfect location to walk or bike to everything of interest in Key West. Lots of other rentals on the street, but local residents super-friendly too, Kitchen was well-equipped. Back yard, spacious and a delightful place to get out of the bustle of Duval St. Rental agent on location was super-responsive to all our needs and very helpful with suggestions. Would go back to Key West and the Mermaid House in a minute. Thank you for everything - Happy New Year!

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Downtown at the Mermaid House

Guest: john (South Boston, MA, USA)
Date of Stay: 11/10/11 Review Submitted: 12/05/11

There were three of us that came down to stay the mermaid house and the house was just perfect! Its so close to everything. We were able to walk just about everywhere in under 15 minutes. Having two bikes readily available to us was great too :) Excellent way to get around. The house was clean and the back yard was a perfect place to sit down and relax for dinner or a nap in the hammock. Everything was great and we will definitely plan to stay here the next time we go down! Thanks Barbara!

Recommended for:Girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

The Perfect Getaway!

Guest: Supertramp (Tarrytown, NY)
Date of Stay: 10/02/11 Review Submitted: 10/12/11

My husband and I stayed at the Mermaid House last week and had a fabulous time. The house is so quaint and comfortable. It was so great to have so many simple amenities like central air, wifi, private backyard for relaxing, BBQ, full kitchen and a washer & dryer! We especially enjoyed the outdoor shower which was a welcome relief after roaming Key West everyday! The location can not be beat. It is a half block off of Duvall and on the quiet end as well. You can easily walk to any location or if your prefer you can rent a scooter from the place right down the street as we did. We enjoyed dining out at many of the restaurants in Key West. We especially enjoyed our dinner at Nine One Five! We also had great breakfasts at the Banana Cafe and Croissant de France. Key West is a fabulous destination to relax by day and party by night.... Or is it the other way around? We did both! Excellent shopping, great places to eat, fun bars (especially Hogs Breath Saloon!!!) and so many great tourists spots to check out! Also, sunset at Mallory Square is a must... I would highly recommend a visit to the Mermaid House it will be our choice when returning.....

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Wonderful cottage!

Guest: Deacons3 (Johnson City TN)
Date of Stay: 07/08/11 Review Submitted: 07/14/11

If you like od preserved cottages, this place is wonderful. Close to everything, yet private. We just returned from there and it was fantastic. Can't wait to go again. Thanks for everything.

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

The Mermaid House March 2011

Guest: kdshell (Lancaster, PA)
Date of Stay: 03/01/11 Review Submitted: 05/04/11

This was our second month long stay at The Mermaid House. We were pleased with the backyard improvements such as additional decking and new furniture. The backyard is truly a tropical paradise in old town Key West with a great area for entertaining or just relaxing. Barbara also added WiFi and a new washer and dryer to the house and these were greatly appreciated. A new living room sofa and a new granite table top added to the lovely décor of The Mermaid House. The greatest thing about this property is its location. In the entire month we walked or biked throughout Key West and we only drove our car three times the entire month. We are returning next year for another month.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, tourists without a car.

We loved our stay!!

Guest: Jeff & Dale (Grand Rapids, MI USA)
Date of Stay: 01/19/11 Review Submitted: 01/30/11

My partner & I just returned from a 50th birthday celebration in Key West and I'm so glad I chose Barbara's house! I must have looked at 100 rentals before hand and I wanted something special for the occasion (and the Mermaid House was it)! First off, you can't beat the location...a block off Duval St.and it's the quiet part of the street (not the crazy touristy area by Mallory Square). Everything's a short walk away or bike ride (and we used the bikes every day). The house is beautifully furnished and very comfortable. The kitchen has everything you could possibly need and we enjoyed cooking dinner there on several nights. We only used the out-door shower...it's incredibly cool. On the one rainy day we had, we loved just hanging out at the cottage, reading and watching movies. The front porch is fun place to people watch and the back deck & garden are a peaceful oasis. Three restaurants we loved: Blue Heaven / Pepe's & El Siboney...avoid eating on Duval unless you like paying premium prices (however, the French bakery around the corner on Duval is heaven on earth). Thanks again Barbara..we can't wait to return!!

Owner response:Hello Jeff and Dale, Happy 50th Day of Birth! What a perfect place to be to celebrate your special day.Thank you for the beautiful words. I am so glad you got to enjoy the magic of The Mermaids House and her wonderful location. We can't wait for you to return and to tell all your friends about her. Thanks again. Barbara The Mermaids House, Old Town Key West

Recommended for:Age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Paradise with the Mermaid

Guest: Ken (New Orleans area, LA)
Date of Stay: 10/26/10 Review Submitted: 11/03/10

We've been coming to Key West almost every year since 2000 and have never stayed in the same place twice. My wife and myself agree, your Mermaid House is the BEST!!! The house has magnificent character, but the back yard blew us away. I don't remember seeing it in your pictures.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

The Allen's, (Louisville, KY)

Guest: Angie (Louisville, KY)
Date of Stay: 07/07/10 Review Submitted: 08/04/10

My husband and I lived in Key West for a few months back in 2002, so needless to say we know our way around the island well. We travel back to Key West about once a year and have stayed in a varitey of places: friends, B&B's, condos, etc. This was our first time renting a house. Let me tell ya, Barbara's got a real gem. It's clean, charming, peaceful, with the right about of space. Most importantly the location is perfect! Very convenient. We stayed with my in-laws and my mother-in-law liked to read and nap in the hamock in the back. The outdoor shower was awesome, and we cooked up our fresh catch in the kitchen. The only thing I was reluctant about was paying in full up front. I'm always suspicious of scams especially since Barbara doesn't live in KW. I would have preferred to pay half up front and half when we arrived, but it all worked out nonetheless. Amber, whom looks after the house was easy to get a hold of, very responsive, prompt and friendly. All in all we were extremely happy with our stay at the Mermaid's House, it helped make our vacation a most memorable one!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Mermaid House March 2010

Guest: kdshell (Lancaster, PA)
Date of Stay: 03/01/10 Review Submitted: 04/27/10

We stayed at the Mermaid House for the month of March 2010. It was the perfect location, right in the center of things but peaceful and secluded. With the fence surrounding the property and with the beautiful tropical plants and trees the back yard was very private. The fence had a front gate that locked providing security for our bikes in the front of the house. The house itself was modernized with its historical character preserved. We especially liked the original Dade County pine floors, the high ceilings, and original well. The outdoor shower was the best. Relatives came down for a few days and with two bedrooms we did not feel crowded. It was a wonderful place to stay in Key West and we are planning to return next year.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Guest: Glenda H. Clark (Pensacola Florida)
Date of Stay: 11/09/09 Review Submitted: 11/09/09

Barbara, Thank you so much for the use of your beautiful home in Key West during the festival. We had such a lovely time enjoying the islands culture and history. The Fantasy Fest was the best. So much to take in !!!! There's no hotel, motel or other that could compare to "The Mermaid House". She was so compfortable and accomodating. So close to everything, but quaint and quiet enough to enjoy a quiet evening of steak and shrimp on the lovely deck. The Mermaid is truly like a home away from home. I never expected what I found when I arrivied. It's the best way to stay and enjoy the island...and We'll be back for more... Your Friend Robert and Glenda Clark Gulf Breeze, Florida

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/16/09 Review Submitted: 04/16/09

Barbara, Thank-you again for letting us stay in your house! You have an island in the middle of "commercialism", hang onto it as long as you can! We liked waking up Sunday morning, sitting on the front porch and listening to the organist and choir practice before services. We're not particularly religious - but you gotta love the music! Your location is perfect, we've been going down for years and never went "no car" before. We rented bikes, the one you have is for a person with much longer legs than ours, and you have a flat tire in the other. By the way - while biking - the only people that scared me were City employees in big trucks driving fast. Anyway - we learned we can bike anywhere on the island and we did - it was wonderful although our butt bones let us know we need to do this more often. The floors in your house are gorgeous! Not to mention the chandelier in the hallway. The bedding is wonderful - both rooms. The beds/matttresses are comfortable - just the right firmness for my husband and I. I'm one of those that has to read before sleeping at night so I used the small bedroom for that and it was perfect lighting with the lamp on the bedside table. You've done reallly well. The outdoor shower was great - we're both shower people so never used the tub. Very nice towels. We loved staying in your house.

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